War in the Pacific

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan moved quickly to secure many strategic locations throughout Asia and the Pacific

Protecting the Philippines was US General Douglas MacArthur

After intense fighting, MacArthur escaped to Australia, surrendering 75,000 Allied troops

War in the Pacific

Bataan Death MarchThe Japanese were not prepared to care for

the large number of captured soldiersForced prisoners to march over 60 miles,

leading to the deaths of over 7,000 soldiersUS public reaction was of outrage- was

used to form an image of Japanese as savages

War in the Pacific

By the summer of 1942, Japan was in control/ in position to control the Indian Ocean, Australia, New Zealand, and the Central Pacific

US decided on a daring plan to increase morale of Americans- a surprise attack on mainland Japan…

War in the Pacific

The Doolittle Raid-Plan was to conduct a nighttime bombing

over TokyoAmerican bombers needed to get close to

Japan, but plans were discovered and planes had to leave early

While bombing didn’t cause significant damage, it did provide the morale boost that was desperately needed

War in the Pacific

Battle of Coral Sea1st naval battle where enemy warships never

saw each otherBattle ended in a draw, but proved that the

war in the Pacific would be won and lost on the strength of aircraft carriers and planes

War in the Pacific

Admiral Yamamoto believed that the American navy was a serious threat- and sought to destroy their capability in the Pacific

Targeted the island of Midway as well as the Aleutian Islands of Alaska

War in the Pacific

Battle of Midway-Naval code breakers discovered the

Japanese plansUS focused all their defenses on MidwayBattle began on June 4, 1942American victory was the turning point of the

war in the Pacific- Japan would spend the rest of the war on the defensive

War in the Pacific

American strategy in the Pacific was island-hoppingCapturing some Japanese-held islands,

while ignoring others on their way to mainland Japan

Victories at Guadalcanal, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa put American forces within range of Japan’s mainland

War in the Pacific

One obstacle Americans had to overcome in the Pacific was Japanese military culture

In many instances, Japanese soldiers preferred death over capture/surrender

Kamikaze pilots flew planes directly into targets to inflict maximum damage

War in the Pacific

Now that America controlled bases near mainland Japan, massive bombing campaigns would lead to Japanese defeat

Unable to defend itself, Japan suffered heavy casualties and lost massive amounts of weapons and planes

Even after the Tokyo fire bombing (March 1945), killed 83,000 Japanese, there was no sign that Japan would surrender

War in the Pacific

The Manhattan ProjectEarly in the 1930s, scientists discovered

how to split the nucleus of certain elements- and the process released massive amounts of energy

Albert Einstein urged FDR to fund the research- he agreed

First atomic bomb test occurred on July 16, 1945 in New Mexico

War in the Pacific

The Manhattan Project (cont)-President Truman had to decide whether or

not to use the bomb For: invasion of Japan might cost 250K-1

million American livesAgainst: Many Japanese civilians would die in

the blast, other world powers may develop similar (or more destructive) weapons

Ultimately, Truman ordered two bombs be dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan

War in the Pacific

Hiroshima- August 6, 1945 Nagasaki- August 9, 1945 August 15, 1945- Emperor Hirohito

decided to surrender (V-J Day)- official surrender took place on September 2